Multi-Deck Screening Machine With Return Conveyor Belts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional multi-deck screening machines suffer from inefficient utilization of screen decks, where only about 50% of the screen surface is effectively used due to the natural inclination of the material flow, leading to suboptimal separation of grain sizes.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a screening machine with multiple screen decks stacked vertically, where conveyor belts transport the screened material back to the start of the next deck below, ensuring 100% material usage and continuous screening across all decks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional multi-deck screening machines are used with inclined screen decks, then material flow follows gravity naturally, but only about 50% of the screen surface is effectively utilized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenatural material flowVSAvoidscreen surface utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of allowing material to flow down the inclined screen deck under gravity, the patent inverts the approach by using conveyor belts to transport material upward against gravity back to the start of each screen deck. This ensures 100% utilization of the screen surface area while maintaining natural gravity-driven separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements continuous material circulation through conveyor belts that constantly return screened material to the beginning of each screen deck. This continuous action ensures that the entire screen surface is continuously utilized, eliminating idle screen areas and maximizing productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Area of stationary object

If screen decks are arranged vertically with conventional conveyors, then equipment footprint is reduced, but material flow efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment footprintVSAvoidmaterial flow efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from horizontal material flow to vertical circulation by stacking screen decks vertically and using conveyor belts to move material upward in the vertical dimension. This maintains compact footprint while improving material flow efficiency through multiple complete passes over each screen surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent nests conveyor belts within the vertical structure of stacked screen decks, with each conveyor belt positioned to serve the screen deck above it. This nested arrangement maximizes space utilization and maintains compact equipment footprint while enabling efficient vertical material circulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration allows for 100% utilization of each screen deck, enhancing the separation efficiency of grain sizes by ensuring that all material passes through each deck, resulting in improved sorting and processing capacity.

Implementation Method 1

Conveyor belts are installed under these screen decks to transport the screened material back to the start of the next deck below

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

screen decks arranged one above the other, which are movable in order to divide the material to be separated into fractions with different grain sizes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 3

The fractions with a larger grain size are disposed of at the end of the respective screen deck

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3305424B1Screening machine with multiple screen decks installed one beneath the other
Publication Date: 2022.11.30 KONIG ERNST WILHELM
  • EP3305424B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3305424B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3305424B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A screening machine with several screen decks (6) installed one below the other. Conveyor belts (7) are installed between these screen decks (6) for the return transport of the screened material to the beginning of the next screen surface below.